3D-Printed Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene-Metal Organic Framework Composite Materials and Their Gas Storage Properties

Metal organic framework materials (MOFs) have been primarily recognized for their ability to promote selective storage of gas molecules. In their as-synthesized (powdered) form, MOFs are not easily processed for use in end-devices where their properties might be exploited. Composites have been produced in which either zeolite imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) or HKUST-1 (also known as MOF-199 and Cu-BTC) has been incorporated into acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). These composites were then 3D printed using a conventional, commercially available 3D printer. Although many MOFs suffer from instability in humid environments, each of the MOFs in our study maintains its structure within the ABS composite even on soaking in water. Moreover, the MOFs maintain their nitrogen adsorption capacities within the composites. The retention of MOF gas adsorption properties within the composite is promising in that these materials can be optimized (MOF, polymer, and 3D-printed geometry) for a number of applications, including gas storage, filtering, sensing, and catalysis.